Burma: junta arrests hundreds of traders in Mandalay jade market

In Burma, the jade market is very lucrative.

The military junta seeks to retain control.

AP - Eugene Hoshiko

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Burmese security forces on Monday (December 20) arrested several hundred jade traders in Mandalay, the country's second largest city.

The general strike aimed at competing shops in a very lucrative market which brought in billions of dollars to the junta.

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About 300 people were arrested Monday during an intervention of the security forces in the largest jade market in the world, located in the south of Mandalay.

According to witnesses, police and military arrested hundreds of traders, including several Chinese brokers.

However, no arrests have taken place in the large government-run market.

The junta tightens its grip on a very lucrative industry

Jade has long been a

.

It represents almost half of Burmese GDP.

The trade in this precious stone, so coveted, especially by the Chinese, drains more than 27 billion euros per year.

It is also one of the most opaque businesses in the world.

He replenished the junta's coffers through shell companies.

The struggle for control of this successful market has for years sparked a bloody conflict between rebel groups and the military.

But since February 1, the junta has tightened its grip on smuggling networks in order to keep maximum control over this very lucrative industry.

► To read also: Conviction of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma: the soldiers "are the law and can do what they want"

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